Testing Old Media Is Cycles?

[oneblondebrow]

Hi all,

How would i test some old media to see if it has cycled? If i drop say 5ppm Ammonia into it when should i next test to see if has cleared it?

 

[Defiance]

Hiya,

Yeah dose to 5ppm, then i would test 8-12hrs later for a reading to see if the ammonia is shifting (if not shifted)

Could go longer before testing, but for my money after that length of time you'll get a 'yes' the media is working or 'no' as-in the media is A: no good or B: ok, but not there in enough volume to clear 5ppm in the time given

Tony

 

[KAISER]

What exactly do you mean by old media?

 

[oneblondebrow]

What exactly do you mean by old media?

The media was in my larger 180 liter tank and was put into the 17 liter with a betta and 2 shrimps but 1 shrimp and a betta died, When i tested water i had traces of Ammonia and Nitrite, now i have on had 1 shrimp in the 17 liter tank which has not given a large enough bio load.

 

[KAISER]

Then I suppose it depends on how long the media went without a bioload. The bacteria colony will depleat by 10% every 24 hours I believe. Also bear in mind, it probably never had to cope with 5 ppm ammonia to begin with,so dosing that much will take a while for it to start coping, imo.